CYOA - W3

[afflictionmods]

ic date: friday, w3
ic time: 7pm - 10pm

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[afflictionmods]

xingqiu

[You blink.

It’s a very normal thing to do, isn’t it? But what happens isn’t normal at all, because even though it was for only a second, when your eyes open again you’re somewhere completely different.

Well.

Not that completely, perhaps.

You can recognize the building in the distance - it’s the mall, but the parking lot seems larger than before. Or perhaps that’s just an illusion, as it’s no longer empty. It’s hard to see through the crowd around you - more people than you’ve ever seen in this city before - but in the distance you can see the tops of a tent, the lights making it easy to see in the dim light of dusk.

There’s something around your wrist.

What would you like to do?]

[fabulation]

[ . . .

Okay, that's sure a thing.

This is fine.

First, though, what exactly is around his wrist? Because Xingqiu is going to check it before doing or moving anywhere. He does not want to suddenly run forward and be tugged back by a chain or something...! ]

[afflictionmods]

[Of course it's fine. Why would anything here not be fine?

As for what's around his wrist, it's a bright pink band with an odd, papery texture. It's just a very (un?)fashionable bracelet, so he is free to run around as he pleases.]

[fabulation]

[ (x) Doubts.

Anyway he will look the band, and even tug it at to see if it can come off. But right after testing that, Xingqiu will walk forward, and see first if he can...bump into any of the people here?

Or will he pass right on through? It seems rude, maybe, but he figures it will tell him more about whatever is happening here. ]

[afflictionmods]

[The band doesn't rip when he tugs at it, and it's too tight to just slide off his wrist. Clearly he is stuck wearing this f o r e v e r.

The people are also very solid! And do seem to find it incredibly rude that he's just bumping into them.]

Hey! Watch it, kid.

[Almost made him spill his drink, smh.]

[fabulation]

Oh, my apologies.

[ He's not actually sorry, tho.

Anyone he'd recognize in the crowd, by the by? ]

[afflictionmods]

[There's a grumble, but they let it be for now. At least he apologized!

There's nobody he can see just yet, but it's a busy place and, well.

He's not very tall.

He seems to be standing at a crossroads, of sorts. In front of him is the Ferris wheel, to his right is the game alley, and to his left are the concession stands.]

[afflictionmods]

shinei

[You blink.

It’s not the first time you’ve blinked since arriving in Estelline, of course. Blink is something even hardened soldiers have to do. This is probably the first time you’ve found yourself somewhere new when you’ve blinked, though. It’s somewhere bright, and loud, and nobody could blame you if it takes you a while to notice the signs for the bus stop a few feet away. There’s a flimsy barricade of traffic cones, tape, and portable metal railings between you and the bus stop, but right now…

Right now you’re in front of exactly what’s making this place so loud. There’s something in your hand.

What would you like to do?]

[undertakings]

[In the silence of the deserted streets they had been trapped in, it was easy to forget the natural bustle and tumult of a city. This is why he stiffens the moment he registers that he has yet again landed in an unfamiliar space, senses alert as he scans the surroundings first for threats, and then as an appraisal of the situation. (It's also hard not to notice the absence of a particular ghost that's been haunting him for the past week, but well, it's fine if it moved on.)

Either way, he'll take note of the bus stop and the attractions around him before checking out what's in his hand. What's he holding?]

[afflictionmods]

[It's... a gun!

Except it's actually quite small for a rifle, and it's incredibly light.

And there's a wire connecting it to the booth he's standing in front of.

So it's immediately obvious it's not a real gun.]

[undertakings]

[Disappointing(?). Not that he would really have use for a real gun in this crowd but whatever. Either way, he's not really interested in playing whatever this attraction is, so he'll just place the fake gun back into the booth, but he'll at least look around before he starts walking anywhere.

Are there any clear landmarks or signs telling him where this is? Besides the bus stop I guess.]

[afflictionmods]

[The person manning the booth seems surprised by him just. Putting the gun down.]

Y’sure? No refunds on plays.

[As for landmarks… he can see parts of the campus beyond the bus stop - the same spot where Florence had everyone gather last Saturday. If he looks the other way, he’ll be able to see the mall, though there’s a lot of circus between him and the mall.]

[undertakings]

[He just barely spares a glance at the guy running the booth.]

Changed my mind.

[It's probably not even his money anyways? ...Actually does he have a wallet or anything on him? ...Is he even in his own clothes??

He'll consider the location info later, this is more important.]

[afflictionmods]

miach

[You blink.

And you find yourself looking at the sky. Even if you were already outside, it’s not a view you would see. The sun is low in the sky, but there’s no fog. You can see the city as clear as day - especially with the view you have from the Ferris wheel.

(Though… have you ever seen one of these things before?)

From your view at the top of the wheel, at least, you can see precisely where you are - you seem to be in the parking lot. Or, well. Far, far above the parking lot that seems larger than before.

There’s something around your wrist.

What would you like to do?]

[imitationsoul]

[ That is a really nice view. Miach likes places high up. It's fantastic to feel like you're floating above it all and having a wide view reminds her a little of the mountains. She misses the mountains.

Miach will check her wrist but unless whatever is on it is directly alarming, she's going to lean out the gondola just a little bit and survey the area.

How far can she see? Is there anyone in the other gondolas in her field of vision? ]

[afflictionmods]

[She has a (very fashionable, very pink) wristband on, but it doesn't seem to be much besides of an accessory.

She can see for quite a distance - she can see the parking lot, the mall - even the school campus, and there's no fog in sight so she can even see parts of the campus she's never seen before.

The gondola sways when she leans out of it, but she can see people in the gondolas in front and behind her. They don't seem to have noticed her, too busy enjoying themselves.]

[imitationsoul]

[ Oooh, that's an admission wristband, isn't it? Miach finds it a little exciting, despite herself. In her day and age, admission fees are automatically substracted from your account through WatchMe - the idea of having your only proof of legitimate ticket purchase be a slip of paper... Ah, it's beautifully old-fashioned.

Is there anything recognizable on the campus parts normally hidden? Like, is there maybe a sports ground or something else that can be easily identified from above? ]

[afflictionmods]

[It's nostalgia! People love nostalgia.

She can't see anything like an arena or sports field from this angle, but that's not to say it isn't there. There's a few buildings that look very similar to the dorms that have been assigned to the students, and what appear to be more lecture halls.

The wheel has also started to descend after pausing with her at the top.]

[imitationsoul]

[ This is going way too fast, she'd like to remain up here for a while longer :( Maybe she'll see about climbing a roof sometime, having a view is really good.

Either way, not much she can do until the wheel reaches the bottom. She'll make an attempt to look more at the other passengers before she gets down there. What's the demographic here? Age, gender, nationality, fat, thin? People she knows? ]

[afflictionmods]

the great detective herlock sholmes

[You blink.

When your eyes open, you see that you’re standing at the entrance to the mall. There’s a large tent in the center of the parking lot, but you can see other, smaller tents littered around from the back of this place. At the edges of of the lot you can see booths and stalls, all covered in bright, colorful lights… and people. More people than you’ve ever seen in this city.

There’s a table decorated much the same as the booths you can see, with the most notable difference being the sign hanging above it. There seems to be someone manning the booth, as well as another person hanging around next to it.

What would you like to do?]

[herlocksholmes]

[What...just happened? Suddenly, he's faced with what seems to be a circus. Strange. Clearly, this world doesn't exactly follow the laws of logic, given what happened with the orb and the ghouls, but it still catches his attention anyway.

Hmmmmm...

Well! Nothing to gain by standing around. Time to see what's happening here, and why there's so much people! Let's see if he can get a ticket. Approach the ticket table, great detective]

[afflictionmods]

[The person manning the booth brightens up when Sholmes approaches, in the practiced sort of way of someone who's had to deal with the public day in and day out for years.]

Hey there! Looking to buy a ticket?

[Does he have any money on him?]

[herlocksholmes]

Not yet, my good fellow. I was passing by when I was enraptured by this impressive circus you have here. What will happen in today's spectacle?

[What would he be dealing with were he try to get in, he has to wonder]

[afflictionmods]

[They scratch their cheek, looking a bit perplexed for a moment.]

Well, I mean, this is a pretty small circus…

[Uh. Hm.]

We got clowns? And some acrobats who do like… tightrope walking and all that. We don’t have any animal shows, though, I know a lot of people are disappointed about that…

[herlocksholmes]

Intriguing! [Let him check his pockets aaaaaand...no money] I will be coming back later.

[Giving a nod to the ticket booth, Sholmes steps away. This circus appearing out of nowhere, and all these people here...so far, it seems mundane. Surprisingly so.

How do these people look? Are they distorted in any way, like the bus driver from the weekend?